CHIME Through the Years: Africa

To continue to amplify the voices of women and girls from around the world, CHIME launched its culminating Through the Years: The Female Fabric content series in June 2020, curated by Emeritus Managing Editor of the CHIME FOR CHANGE Journalism Platform Mariane Pearl from the archives of CHIME. The series featured 100 stories from CHIME’s collection of powerful, first-person narratives from women since 2013, sourced and edited by Mariane, highlighting the critical need to share women’s first-hand experiences, challenges and triumphs, especially during this unprecedented time when progress towards gender equality is at risk.

CHIME was honored to feature the following 17 written and multimedia pieces from women and girls in Africa making strides in the fight for gender equality and positive social change. Among the selections were stories of women confronting tradition and patriarchy in Malawi and Kenya, reporting on gender-based violence in Liberia and Cameroon, advocating for representation in sports in Sierra Leone and Mali, and more.

• “BVUDZI: A Hair Affair” by Tapiwa Gambura for ConnectHER
• “Not Your Bride: A Woman’s Constitution” by Tapiwa Gambura for ConnectHER
• “Women in Tech: Female Software Engineers Aim to Close Gender Gap” by Aneta Felix for ConnectHER
• “Crafting the City’s Social Fabric” with Sakina M’Sa
• “War Child” by Michaela DePrince
• “Anna: South Sudan’s Only Female Editor-in-Chief” by Anna Nimiriano
• “Dancing with the Wolves” by Gillian August Thorp
• “Black Passionaria” by Eve Blouin
• “A Letter to Love” by Millicent Wangui
• “Mireille’s Arc: A Lifeboat in the DRC” by Mireille Tushiminina
• “From Human Trafficking unto Harvard College” by Agnes Igoye
• “Coming Out in Malawi” by Otoli Mundo
• “The Real Pain of Irrational Beliefs” by Immaculate Amoit
• “Bend It Like Isha” by Isha Johansen
• “A Vision for Blind Soccer” by Catherine Cabrol
• “Breast Ironed” by Nakinti Nofuru
• “Two Steps Forward” by Tecee Boley